My 4 past GHIN numbers are NH -> 22.7 -> 17.9 -> 19.2. It is likely go down as I have seen signs of getting out of slump: neck/back issues nearly fixed, swing form back to normal, getting used to the new home course, and understanding all the score counting rules (I know now what to avoid).

15 days later, it has gone up to 19.6. But, the good news is that I have my best round since I started posting official handicap scores.

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

I don't know who could disagree with this. Golf is supposed to just be fun, just you and a little white ball that won't move and hardly ever goes exactly where you want it, not about handicaps ect.

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

Well you are bragging how you can enjoy golf with a handicap. Not having a cap is fine, you may not be ready to one because you don't play consistent enough or this reason. The four reasons have nothing to do with why people keep their handicap. A handicap for me is a way of keeping track of consistency and knowing subtle improvements in your game. Secondly a HC helps you stay focused in a round and keep putting effort into playing your best. Sure you can do your own thing about your game but it has made me a more consistent golfer because I know I am trying 110% every round. Instead of saying oh well, this round is dogged I will just smack it around the rest of the round. I have shot some really good back nines because I pulled up my pants and ground out a low score to supplement a sub par (see what I did there ) front nine...

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowkie

I don't know who could disagree with this. Golf is supposed to just be fun, just you and a little white ball that won't move and hardly ever goes exactly where you want it, not about handicaps ect.

Most serious golfers will disagree with it. Some of us like to compete against each other......and yep, we think that it's fun. The Hcp system allows us to do that.

I'm one of those guys who golfs a fair amount but I've never been interested in an official handicap. I don't honestly see the need; I don't enter tournaments and I don't gamble. I know what I typically shoot and getting that "official' number would only give me a reason to a) brag or b) have an inferiority complex. I don't want either, I play purely for fun. I know many people here won't get that but that is why I don't have a handicap.

Ok, I get it you don't need a HC cause you don't bet or gamble. Hard for me to believe a guy doesn't want to know if he's getting better or worse with his game. Without a benchmark you have no idea if your game is progressing or in remiss. Without a HC you are just guessing You might as well subscribe to something like " no child left behind". Let's not tell Johnny he's not cutting the grade, let's just say he's trying and pass him. It's okay, he wanted to do well so let's pass him. I say your kidding yourself in golf as in life, if you don't know where your going you'll never know if you get there. Ever get a annual review at work? They don't give you a " well you tried so you get a raise". They tell you you improved or you didn't and you get a raise or you don't

Originally Posted by Jim Ludden
Ok, I get it you don't need a HC cause you don't bet or gamble. Hard for me to believe a guy doesn't want to know if he's getting better or worse with his game. Without a benchmark you have no idea if your game is progressing or in remiss. Without a HC you are just guessing You might as well subscribe to something like " no child left behind". Let's not tell Johnny he's not cutting the grade, let's just say he's trying and pass him. It's okay, he wanted to do well so let's pass him. I say your kidding yourself in golf as in life, if you don't know where your going you'll never know if you get there. Ever get a annual review at work? They don't give you a " well you tried so you get a raise". They tell you you improved or you didn't and you get a raise or you don't

I don't see the connection you're trying to make. It would be different if he posted something like "I don't have a handicap but my coach says I'm really good". But the guy just enjoys playing golf and the game means different things to different people.

For me personally, I agree with you in that I don't know if I'm improving without a handicap to quantify it. But that's me and I wouldn't presume what's important to me should be important to anyone else.

Originally Posted by Jim Ludden
Ok, I get it you don't need a HC cause you don't bet or gamble. Hard for me to believe a guy doesn't want to know if he's getting better or worse with his game. Without a benchmark you have no idea if your game is progressing or in remiss. Without a HC you are just guessing You might as well subscribe to something like " no child left behind". Let's not tell Johnny he's not cutting the grade, let's just say he's trying and pass him. It's okay, he wanted to do well so let's pass him. I say your kidding yourself in golf as in life, if you don't know where your going you'll never know if you get there. Ever get a annual review at work? They don't give you a " well you tried so you get a raise". They tell you you improved or you didn't and you get a raise or you don't

I don't see the connection you're trying to make. It would be different if he posted something like "I don't have a handicap but my coach says I'm really good". But the guy just enjoys playing golf and the game means different things to different people.

For me personally, I agree with you in that I don't know if I'm improving without a handicap to quantify it. But that's me and I wouldn't presume what's important to me should be important to anyone else.

Regardless of whether or not he needs a HC, this thread is not here to debate the need because the people posting in here use the system for fair play against others, friends and against themselves. Also as personal assessment of their progress. Granted some sand bag or inflate their scores but on the whole it is a fair system. So discussion on why you don't use it is

Ok, I get it you don't need a HC cause you don't bet or gamble. Hard for me to believe a guy doesn't want to know if he's getting better or worse with his game. Without a benchmark you have no idea if your game is progressing or in remiss. Without a HC you are just guessing You might as well subscribe to something like " no child left behind". Let's not tell Johnny he's not cutting the grade, let's just say he's trying and pass him. It's okay, he wanted to do well so let's pass him. I say your kidding yourself in golf as in life, if you don't know where your going you'll never know if you get there. Ever get a annual review at work? They don't give you a " well you tried so you get a raise". They tell you you improved or you didn't and you get a raise or you don't

I find your personal attacks interesting, seeing as you don't know me. You a psychotherapist bro? From my post on not having a handicap somehow I am kidding myself in life and don't know where I'm going? Jimmy, I've spent 15+ years in the military with a large chunk of that in Afghanistan. I was there in 2001 and I'm there now. While I do get annual reviews at work, my performance is evaluated constantly. If I screw things up people will be killed or injured or I'll destroy millions of dollars worth of assets. So pardon me for not taking golf too seriously. I didn't realize you were on the tour. It seems to me your priorities in life may be out of whack.

If you think that post contained "personal attacks" you're not long for the Internet.

Let's please stick to the topic - I'm with @Valleygolfer. If you don't have a handicap index, this isn't the thread for you.

@david in FL
I like to compete against others and do from time to time so I do have a HC but I don't really pay attention to it or watch it closely. I just play to play. I track my progress and consistency through tracking FIR, GIR, ect. The HC is more there just for the really competitive people I play, for me I just like the challenge of trying to beat those better then me scratch, if I beat them because of my HC it's just not as good of a win to me